First degree murder charges are “most likely” coming against Thomas Buttimer, according to a statement written into his court file at Falmouth District Court. Buttimer is charged with armed assault with intent to murder a police officer and illegal possession of a firearm, after police say he pointed a rifle at them in Middleboro on July 12.

First-degree murder charges are “most likely” coming against Thomas F. Buttimer, according to a police statement in his court file.

The 52-year-old man, previously from Falmouth, who is accused of pointing a rifle at police in the aftermath of a Middleboro shooting that left a woman dead last week, may also be charged with her death, according to a State Police affidavit included in Buttimer’s Wareham District Court file, where he was arraigned.

As of Friday, no one had been charged in the death of Norma DesRoche, 65, of 174 Highland St. She died from a single gunshot wound to the chest in the July 12 incident.

And no other charges had been filed against Buttimer, according to the Plymouth County district attorney’s office, which has declined to comment on whether Buttimer is even a suspect.

Attorney Joseph F. Krowski, Jr., of Brockton, who will be defending Buttimer told The Enterprise Friday that he would “reserve” comments on the case.

“It’s way too early, I don’t have any comment at this time,” Krowski said.

On July 12, at 12:03 a.m., Middleboro police and state cruisers arrived at the DesRoche’s south Middleboro home for reports that a woman had fallen down the stairs and was bleeding.

They arrived to find the victim’s husband, John DesRoche, applying CPR, a bloodied handprint on the wall nearby. His brother, Joseph DesRoche, was also there. As paramedics entered the home, one medic still outside yelled: “He’s got a gun,” according to a court affidavit.

As the affidavit describes, a man, later identified as Buttimer, stood in the dirt driveway, a long barrel rifle pointed toward police. Buttimer refused to drop the weapon. Shots were fired.

About 30 feet from the house, Buttimer – who had been shot – fell, leaving a stain of blood in the driveway, where he was initially treated. He was then taken to Rhode Island Hospital for further treatment, before being arraigned in Wareham District Court Monday, and subsequently held on $300,000 cash bail.

Buttimer is charged with assault with intent to murder a police officer and illegal possession of a firearm.

Assistant District Attorney Bridget Norton Middleton, who spoke for the Plymouth County DA’s office, said the incident remains under investigation.

“Police are still examining the physical evidence left at the scene, interviewing witnesses and at this time, her death is still under investigation by state police and Middleboro police,” Middleton said this week.

Police are testing both ballistics and blood evidence from the scene, she added.

Buttimer, an ex-convict who faced similar assault charges in Falmouth last year, had been staying at the DesRoche’s home since getting out of jail in June.

In November, police say, Buttimer faked a phone call to police, saying that a man with a knife was in his Falmouth apartment. Police arrived and called to Buttimer, asking if he was involved, reports show.

Page 2 of 2 - Buttimer, “grasping a knife in his right hand,” suddenly began to run at police, Officer Michael Lee detailed in his report. Lee made it to his cruiser, grabbed his Taser gun and shot at Buttimer, incapacitating him briefly, the report states.

“Throughout booking,” another Falmouth officer recounted in a police report, “Buttimer apologized, and stated that he felt guilty about what had happened.”

When asked why he did it, he shook his head, then said: “I was out of my mind,” reports stated.

On both occasions, police said they smelled alcohol on Buttimer’s breath. Buttimer has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has a history of alcohol and drug abuse, according to court records.

For the charges in Falmouth, Buttimer was sentenced to 18 months, to serve six months in Barnstable County Jail, minus 56 days credit, which he received for time served while held. He was released June 14.

Less than one month later, Norma DesRoche is dead, and no one is facing charges.